As Louis van Gaal's side prepare to take on Argentina in the semifinals in Sao Paolo on Wednesday, Sneijder -- who grabbed plenty of headlines himself when he scored five times in the 2010 World Cup -- said his sole focus was on lifting the trophy.

"My aim in 2010 was to win the World Cup, and that's the same aim I've got now. I know it will be hard, but even in 2010 it seemed like it would be hard to beat Brazil and reach the final."

Robben's goals and performances for both Bayern Munich and his country have made him a leading contender for football's most prestigious individual awards, and Sneijder said: "I hope Arjen wins everything.

"There's no jealousy from me. I don't say that just about the player, but Arjen is also my friend. And if he wins the Ballon d'Or, then maybe that means we will have won the World Cup, so that would be perfect."

"The team is playing better and better, it is mentally strong, is lucky and has Robben," he said.

"People talk a lot about Messi and James Rodriguez at this World Cup, but for me, the best player is Robben. He was already good in 2010, but now he's really been extraordinary. Robben is the Dutch Messi."